Finger printing device



0a. 7, 1941. s. E. MILLE R 2,258,330

FINGER PRINTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1938 Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,258,330 .1 FINGER PRINTING DEVICE Samuel E. Miller, Aurora, Ill. 7 Application February 18, 1938, Serial .No. 191,181

l Clairns. (CL 9154.5)

The invention relates to ink pads and the like, and more particularly to a device adapted for inking the fingers or other objects.

The invention has among its objects the construction of a device which is simple in operation, of durable construction, and very efficient for the purposes set forth.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device of the kind described which may be readily inked for use, and in which the ink is applied only when it is desired to use the device.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device in which the amount of ink deposited may be readily varied and adjusted to any desired amount.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing wherein like reference charac-- ters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of the device in normal operating position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device showing the inking element in an inverted position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device, partly in section, the inking element in an inverted position; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view with the inking element likewise in an inverted position.

Referring to the drawing, the device comprises a base I having an upright 2 at each end, the uprights being attached to the base by screws 3 or other suitable means, for example, if desired, the same could be constructed in one piece. Carried by the uprights 2 is the face plate 4 which is pivotally connected tothe uprights through the screws 5, the latter each having a knurled head 6 by means of which the face plate may be rigidly held in place, either as shown in Fig. 1, the normal operating position, or as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The plate 4 is provided with a rectangular shaped opening 1 adjacent each end, each of a size to receive a roller 8, the latter being supported in the respective openings by the pins 9. Carried by the plate 4 is an ink reservoir I I having an outlet or mouth I2 through which the ink l3 passes. Opposite this outlet or mouth is a pad M of felt or other suitable material. Th ink reservoir H, which may be constructed of any suitable material, either in a single piece or as shown,; is held in place on the plate 4 by means of the member it having projecting portions 1 6 with the screws El threaded therein, engaging the laterally extending portions I8 of the ink reservoir. Themember l5 may be secured to the plate 4 by the screws i9 orany other suitable means. Likewise, the ribbon standards 2! and 22 may be secured to the plate by screws 23 or other suitable means. Carried by th ribbon standards ,2! and 22 are shafts 24 and 25, respectively, which are threaded on one end and provided with'knurled knobs 26 and 21, respectively, on the opposite ends. The portions 28 of the shafts 24 and 25, respectively, are of slightly smaller diameter than that of the remaining portions thereof, the shoulders 29 formed thereby seating on the standard and held in position by means of the washer 3i and nuts 32. The ribbon 33 and ribbon cores 34 and 35 are carried by the shafts 24 and 25 to prevent relative rotation of the ribbon cores and shafts, each of the latter being provided with a pin 36 extending transversely through the shaft and engageable with a corresponding slot 31 on each of the respective ribbon cores. The ribbon 33 passes from the core located on the shaft 24 between the mouth l2 of the reservoir II and the pad i l, over one of the rollers 8, along the face of the plate 4, over the other roller 8 and onto the core carried by the shaft 22. The pad I4 prevents binding of th ribbon and supports the same before the reservoir outlet.

In operation, the device normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 in which position the ink I3 in the reservoir will not be in contact with the outlet or mouth I2. To ink the ribbon, the plate 4 is rotated about the screws 5 and locked in place by means of the knurled nuts 6 after which the knob 21 is rotated, drawing the ribbon off the core located on the shaft 24 past the mouth l2 of the reservoir II and over the face of the plate 4. As the ribbon passes the mouth of the reservoir ll, ink will be deposited on the ribbon, the amount of ink deposited depending on the degree of pressure applied on the reservoir by the screws l1, the latter thus providing a means of adjustment for readily varying the amount of ink deposited on the ribbon. After a sufiicient length of ribbon has been inked and positioned on the face of plate 4, the latter is again rotated into the normal position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the fingers or other members or objects may be inked by placing the same on that portion 34 of the ribbon adjacent the face of plate 4.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for inking objects, the combination of a plate, a closed ink reservoir carried thereby, an outlet in said reservoir adjacent one face of said plate, and a ribbon passing between said outlet and plate and extending along the opposite face of the latter to provide an object inking surface.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a base, uprights extending therefrom, a plate pivotally connected to the uprights, said plate having two spaced openings therein, an ink reservoir and a pair of ribbon standards carried by the plate on one face thereof, a ribbon core for each standard, said reservoir having an outlet therein adjacent the face'o-f said plate, a ribbon extending from one of said ribbon standards, between said reservoir outlet and plate, through the adjacent opening, over the opposite face of said plate, through the other opening therein; onto the other ribbon core, and means for manually winding said ribbon on the latter.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a base, uprights extending therefrom, a plate pivotally connected to the uprights, said plate having an opening adjacent each end but spaced therefrom, a roller mounted in each opening, an ink reservoir and a pair of standards carried by the plate on one face thereof, a ribbon core for each standard, said reservoir having an outlet therein adjacent the face of said plate, a pad positioned between said outlet and the plate, a ribbon extending from one of said ribbon standards, between said reservoir outlet and pad, through the adjacent opening and over the roller therein, along the opposite face of said plate through the other opening and over the roller therein, onto the other ribbon core, and means for manually winding said ribbon on the latter.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a base, uprights extending therefrom, a plate pivotally connected to the uprights, an ink reservoir and a pair of ribbon standards carried by the plate on one face thereof, a ribbon core for each standard, said reservoir having an outlet therein adjacent the face of ,said plate,'a ribbon extending from one of said ribbon standards, between said reservoir outlet and plate, over the opposite face of said plate and onto the other ribbon core, and means for manually winding said ribbon on the latter.

SAMUEL E. MILLER. 

